Permaculture, agroecology, organic agriculture are terms that are often used synonymously. Strictly speaking, permaculture is the design of sustainable human environments while agroecology applies concepts and principles of ecology to the design and management of sustainable agricultural systems.It is therefore not possible to design a permaculture environment without integrating agroecology.Hence in Artifex, we have decided to expand our activities by adopting this in an abandoned urban lot, with the intention of creating an urban garden.

During a conference in Palma, we had a direct offer of free use of agricultural land by one of the attendees which unfortunately was too far from the school to work on.
We later discovered a plot of land just 5 minutes away from the school. The site had been neglected for years, and had "friendly" builders dedicated to filling it with debris.The house had been inhabited by some squatters who may have been responsible for fire damages causing warped concrete beams in the roof.Neighbouring goats and sporadic visitors had further added to damages.

The first phase was very clear: the empty house and clean the area.

It's amazing how much junk you can accumulate in an abandoned space: several fires, sacks and bags with plastic and metals that could be recycled - a true showcase of products of consumer society.

Pruning and fixing the vines and trees.

(Image from left to right: Miquel, Ramón and Bóris)

Once we had cleared the field of larger stones, time to try another of our projects came: the conversion of an old rotary cultivator to a permaculture tool.To do this we substituted a tiller for large wheels.On the back of the tool we adapted an old horse drawn plough by cutting and welding, takind using the blacksmith skills of Gonzalo.

The result is a machine that, while still consuming oil, allows us to open land without turning, which respects bacterial life that should remain in their corresponding horizontal layer , while we allow for oxygen to infiltrate the subsurface of the soil.

(Image: Luís testing the artifact).

Brambles had invaded the western boundary, so it was a battle to thoroughly remove them.

Img: Luis, Andrés and Jaume.

Liberating the edge, next came the insertion of new poles and chicken wire to create a fence.

Img: Miquel, Ramón, Bóris y
Andrés.

After we closed the perimeter, we added horse manure that could contribute to future terraces ...

... and prepared the first compost pile ...

After preparing the land for fertility, we began to prepare raised beds and growing sections with ropes.
Width 1.20 mx 18 m in length.

Width 1,20 m x 18 m in lenght.

Next step: Place the drip irrigation and cover soil with straw for mulching.